Luke 11 35

Luke 11:35 kjv

Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.

Luke 11:35 nkjv

Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.

Luke 11:35 niv

See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

Luke 11:35 esv

Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.

Luke 11:35 nlt

Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.

Luke 11 verses

Luke 11 35 Meaning

Luke 11:35 warns against the corruption of one's inner spiritual perception or the truth one possesses. Building on the metaphor of the eye as the lamp of the body, Jesus exhorts individuals to diligently guard their inner "light," which represents their spiritual understanding, conscience, or the truth received from God. The danger lies in allowing this internal capacity for truth and discernment to be clouded, perverted, or become blind, thereby plunging one's entire being into profound spiritual darkness. It emphasizes the critical importance of a healthy inner spiritual state for right action and true understanding.

Luke 11 35 Context

Luke 11:35 is part of a broader discourse by Jesus, following a challenge by an unnamed man and criticisms from the Pharisees. Preceding this verse, Jesus condemns those who seek signs (Lk 11:29-32) and introduces parables and sayings about the nature of spiritual understanding. Verse 33 speaks of placing a lamp where its light can be seen, emphasizing the purpose of revelation. Verse 34 then uses the analogy of the eye as the "lamp of the body"; if the eye is "sound" or "good" (Greek: ἁπλοῦς - haplous, meaning simple, single, healthy, sincere), the whole body is full of light. But if it is "bad" or "evil" (Greek: πονηρός - ponēros, meaning evil, diseased, malicious), the whole body is in darkness. Verse 35 directly warns the listener about guarding their inner spiritual perception or the truth they possess. It is a caution against hypocrisy, spiritual blindness, or allowing the light of God's truth to be perverted by inner corruption, as seen in the very Pharisees who were rejecting Jesus' light. The overall context urges true reception and adherence to God's revelation, personified in Christ, lest one fall into profound spiritual darkness despite external exposure to truth.

Luke 11 35 Word analysis

• Take heed (βλέπετε - blepete): This is a present imperative verb, meaning "see to it," "be careful," "watch out," or "be on your guard." It denotes a continuous and urgent warning to exercise discernment and caution regarding one's inner spiritual state. It implies a personal responsibility to remain vigilant.
• therefore (οὖν - oun): A particle that indicates a logical inference or conclusion based on what has just been stated. In this context, it links the warning directly to the preceding analogy of the eye and the body (Lk 11:34). Because the eye's state determines the body's light or darkness, therefore one must guard the light within.
• that the light (τὸ φῶς - to phos): "Light" refers metaphorically to spiritual understanding, moral truth, divine revelation, one's inner capacity for discernment, or the truth received from Christ. In biblical thought, light is intrinsically linked with God's presence, goodness, truth, and life (e.g., Ps 36:9; 1 Jn 1:5).
• which is in thee (τὸ ἐν σοί - to en soi): This refers to the inner self of the individual – their spiritual perception, conscience, mind, or soul. It denotes something that an individual possesses or harbors internally, distinguishing it from external, visible light. It's the inner lamp of understanding.
• be not (μὴ ἔσται - mē estai): A negative command with a future indicative verb. It's a strong prohibition against something happening. "Let it not come to pass that..."
• darkness (σκότος - skotos): The antithesis of light. Spiritually, it signifies ignorance, error, moral evil, spiritual blindness, confusion, and separation from God. When light becomes darkness, it implies a profound perversion where what should be clear and guiding becomes corrupting and misleading.

Words-group analysis:

• "Take heed therefore": A solemn injunction linking previous teaching to a present, critical responsibility for self-examination and spiritual vigilance. It calls for immediate and ongoing caution.
• "the light which is in thee": Points to the inward spiritual condition and understanding of the individual. This "light" is not external revelation, but the internalized truth or one's capacity to perceive it, which has become one's inner reality.
• "be not darkness": This striking phrase highlights a terrifying spiritual reversal. It's not just the absence of light, but the corruption where the very source of spiritual insight or moral truth within one becomes perverse or deceitful, leading to profound self-deception and complete spiritual blindness.

Luke 11 35 Bonus section

The concept of "the light which is in thee" turning into "darkness" is a profound theological caution against spiritual apostasy, hypocrisy, and intellectual pride. It suggests that individuals who have been exposed to, and perhaps even possessed, a measure of divine truth or spiritual understanding can, through a hardening of heart, a rejection of further light, or the embracing of sin, turn that very capacity or knowledge into a source of deeper error and blindness. This state is more perilous than simple ignorance because it is a condition where the individual genuinely perceives their distorted view as truth. This phenomenon can be observed in those who misuse scripture to justify evil, or religious leaders whose traditions override true understanding, effectively turning God's own revelation into a blindfold for themselves and others. It underscores that truth, once perceived, requires humility and constant application to avoid self-deception and spiritual decay.

Luke 11 35 Commentary

Luke 11:35 serves as a profound spiritual warning, directly building on Jesus' metaphor of the eye. If the eye, the organ meant to receive light, is diseased, it throws the whole body into darkness. Similarly, if a person's inner spiritual faculty—their conscience, understanding of truth, or perception of divine revelation—is corrupted or perverted, their entire moral and spiritual being will be enveloped in darkness. This is not merely ignorance but a deeper, more dangerous condition: believing falsehood to be truth, or moral decay dressed as righteousness. The verse implies that simply having exposure to God's truth (the "light") is insufficient; one must actively guard and preserve its purity within. The danger is that one might think they have light (like the Pharisees thought they had spiritual insight from the Law) but their "light" has been so distorted by sin, self-righteousness, or rejection of Christ that it functions as darkness, blinding them further. This requires constant self-examination and openness to correction from the true Light, Jesus Christ. A practical application is to consistently allow God's word to examine and cleanse one's inner thoughts and intentions (Heb 4:12), lest pride or sin warp one's perception of truth. For instance, holding a prejudice can cause someone to interpret righteous actions as malicious, turning their inner "light" into "darkness." Similarly, claiming Christian faith but harboring unforgiveness turns inner potential for illumination into a source of bitterness.